HORRIFIED onlookers saw a man slashed on the backside with a samurai sword in a daylight street brawl in Deane.

Passersby described seeing a man and a woman armed with swords, while one man had a baseball bat and another was throwing bricks.

One witness said he saw a man chasing another down the street, swinging the sword, before he connected with the man's rear.

The incident followed a row involving three men and a woman, according to eyewitnesses in Gilnow Lane on Tuesday afternoon.

Police, who were called at 3.40pm, said a 31-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of violent disorder, along with three men, aged 27, 34 and 37.

They said a 27-year-old man suffered a slash wound but refused medical treatment.

They confirmed that weapons including a baseball bat and sword had been involved.

Ilyas Abdi, who lives in Gilnow Lane, said: "I saw two of them arguing and then one went away and came back with a huge knife, which looked like a sword.

"The other guy kept taunting him, saying he wanted to fight man-on-man.

"But the guy with the sword was smaller and he wasn't going to put it down.

"Then he just started chasing him, swinging his sword and he caught him on the backside and cut him.

"The guy kept showing the people that he had been cut."

A motorist driving along Deane Road, who asked to remain anonymous, noticed the disturbance while sitting in traffic.

He said: "A man and a woman, both with full-size samurai swords, were having a stand off against one man who had what looked like a baseball bat.

"Then, from the other side of the road, another man came running at the two with swords throwing broken house bricks.

"Then they backed off down Gilnow Lane."

The four people arrested have been bailed while police investigate.

Det Insp Sarah May said: "I know there will be concern in the community that weapons were used during a disturbance in the street.

"None of the protagonists involved suffered any serious injuries and our officers arrested four people who have now been bailed pending further inquiries.

"We will now be carrying out an investigation to establish the facts and what led up this altercation, so I would appeal to anyone with information about what happened to come forward and speak to us."

An estate agent, who asked not to be named, came back to work as the police were dealing with the incident.

He said: "It is shocking that this could happen so close to the shop.

"My friend saw it all and said it was really, really scary.

"It's dangerous and there is no reason in this country to carry things like that around unless you feel you need them.

"I am a gentlemen and do not feel the need for this."

Anyone with information can call police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.